Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I will continue.

This year, we have a target of 9,000 new-build social houses. Should that be delivered, as we intend it to be, it will be the single biggest delivery of social housing in any year in the history of the State. All I am saying to the Members opposite, including Deputy O'Reilly who is no longer here, which is fine, is that her colleagues in Fingal have objected to a housing scheme of 1,200 homes, including 253 social homes and 253 affordable housing with the remainder private. Her party's councillors in that area decided that was not what they wanted. I can give examples of that kind right across Dublin and right across the country. One constructive thing Sinn Féin could do is to allow developments to happen and to allow public and affordable housing to be built. It is very important that this happens because we have to catch up on supply. Last year, there were just over 21,000 completions, which is approximately 12,000 fewer than are needed. However, in the 12 months to the end of March, more than 22,000 new homes were completed, the highest 12-month total in the past decade. More than 35,000 new commencement notices were received between April 2021 and March 2022. This is also the highest rolling 12-month total since comparable data was first published. Planning permission was granted for 43,000 new homes in 2021. Supply of both public and private housing is crucial in tackling the rental and affordability crises.

We brought forward the Affordable Housing Act 2021, the most comprehensive affordable housing Act ever brought forward in this House. Not only have we done that but we have also opened the affordable housing fund, through which affordable homes for purchase will be delivered for hundreds of families this year. We will be bringing forward our first home shared equity scheme from 1 July this year, under which the State will step in to help potential first-time buyers, many of whom are stuck in rental traps, to bridge the gap between the finance they have and the finance they need by taking an equity share. The party opposite opposed that scheme vociferously but it will work for people who want to own their own home. Another scheme that Members opposite vociferously opposed is that relating to help-to-buy grant, which has helped more than 30,000 people buy and own their own homes. Inexplicably, the Members opposite opposed that. We will continue that scheme because it is a direct support for people.

We also need to resource our local authorities to build the homes we need. We have plans in place, agreed with all 31 local authorities across the Twenty-six Counties, as to their housing delivery between now and 2026. These cover social housing, cost-rental housing, affordable housing and private housing.

We have delivered cost rental from a slow start. It did not exist and was not here but we legislated for it, which Sinn Féin supported. There are now tenants in place paying 50% below the market rent in many places. We will deliver hundreds more such units this year. I genuinely thank the Sinn Féin Members opposite for tabling their motion and giving me the opportunity to respond to it. It speaks of dramatically increasing "investment in the delivery of large volumes of affordable Cost Rental" but there is no detail included. There is no detail with regard to the capacity to deliver. We have to build capacity in the construction sector to deliver the homes we need.

I am thankful that, because of the Housing for All plan, the construction sector is back to its pre-pandemic capacity. The plan itself will create at least 27,000 new jobs. That is happening right now. Again, that might not suit the narrative but things are turning in the right direction. The roll-out of cost rental is happening and will continue. We have funded more than 900 new tenancies for this year and, if we can do more, we will because resources are not an issue. We now have a national cost-rental scheme in place along with a national affordable purchase scheme. Our local authorities are delivering houses starting from €166,000. In this instance, the State also takes an equity stake in those homes through the local authorities. That is helping people who have been locked out of the market for the last ten years to get back into it.

While it may surprise some of the Members opposite, we need to increase the delivery of private housing. It is not illegal for people to own their own homes. By the way some of those opposite talk, you would actually-----

See this speech in context